Best Waffle Maker Reviews in 2018

If you’re in a hurry, we think you should take a look at the Cuisinart WAF-F20 Double Belgian Waffle Maker, it’s definitely our favorite of our extensively researched bunch. On the other hand, if you want to see if there’s something perfect for you then we’ve compiled a list of the best and brightest waffle makers on the planet. So… dig in.

There are few things that the majority of the human race can agree on, but for most of us the delciiousness of waffles is without question. Rather than investing in Eggos, why not spend the money and get a waffle maker of your own? If you’ve never delved into this array of kitchen gadgetry then you may be surprised that there’s more to it than picking up a random waffle iron and hoping for the best.

Bestoverallpick!

Best overall: Cuisinart WAF-F20

If you can stomach the cost, however, adding this waffle maker to your kitchen is a fantastic idea. Of everything we took a look at it’s the most functional and highest-quality maker around. Add it to your appliances and your family just might think you’re a pro.

1.Best Overall

Cuisinart WAF-F20 Double Belgian Waffle Maker

Product Rating5 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

The WAF-F20 makes a whole lot of waffles without taking up a ton of space on your counter. That should be enough for most people, but since it’s the most impressive of the bunch we feel the need to go into more detail.

The double stack design is the first thing that most people will notice. This waffle maker produces two four piece Belgian waffles at the same time without taking up your whole counter top.

On top of that, it has six different settings to allow you just the right level of golden crispiness for your tastes. Add in indicator lights and you’ve got the complete package when it comes to the electronics. It’s easy to clean, high-quality and… rather expensive.

Pros and Cons

Makes two waffles without taking up a lot of counter room

High-quality stainless steel construction

Super even cooking surface

Six heat settings for the perfect level of crisp

A bit expensive

Can’t be turned on end for storage purposes

2. Best Single Waffle Maker

Presto 03510 FlipSide Ceramic Nonstick Finish

Product Rating4.5 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

Not everyone needs to make a whole gaggle of waffles for their breakfast, if you live alone then you might find that a single Belgian waffle makes a respectable breakfast. This one will serve you well if that’s the case.

This machine makes a single Belgian waffle, and it does it super well. It has an easy-to-clean no stick interior that most people will find does the job without any fanfare. You can also flip the whole assembly 180° in order to make sure the batter spreads evenly.

It has an excellent countdown timer which will let you know exactly how long it takes to get things done as well. It also locks in a vertical position in order to make sure that it stores easily. When it comes down to it, this is the best single waffle maker around. It’s a small investment for a huge return, so give it a shot.

Pros and Cons

Non-stick ceramic iron grids

Flips to spread batter evenly

Countdown timer

Super easy to clean

No heat settings

First waffle may be throwaway due to chemicals used on ceramic surface

3. Best Budget Waffle Maker

Oster CKSTWF2000

Product Rating4 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

You don’t have to spend a whole lot of money to end up with a fantastic waffle maker, and this Oster model proves it. It’s the best iron we’ve found for someone with a tight budget, coming in at a fraction of the cost for the competition.

While it may be lacking a bit on the advanced features, it’ll still make beautiful waffles without much effort on your part. It even has an adjustable temperature control so that you can make sure that you get the fluffy, or crispy, waffles that you think will perfectly cap off your morning meal. You can also remove the plates for easy cleaning, which is pretty awesome.

If you’re on a tight budget, never fear. This Oster waffle maker has you covered and makes up for a lack of advanced features by being great at making awesome waffles.

Pros and Cons

Removable irons for easy cleaning

Indicator lights so you know when things are done

Adjustable temperature

Stainless steel construction

Lacks advanced features like countdown

Not quite as thick as most Belgian waffles

4. Best Square Waffle Maker

Hamilton Beach 4-Piece Belgian Waffle Maker

Product Rating4 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

Some people prefer square waffles… and that’s perfectly okay. This waffle maker from Hamilton Beach has you covered and makes an impressive spread of a four piece square waffle that’ll make the perfect accent for breaking your fast.

It easily stores upright as well as being small, making it one of the most compact options we’ve been able to find. If you’re trying to make sure that you don’t lose a whole bunch of cabinet space you’ll be well off with this maker.

It has the usual indicator lights, but it does lack a temperature control so you’ll need to watch it if you prefer your waffles in a different texture than what it naturally serves up. That said, if you like square waffles and extra cabinet space then this is the exact waffle maker that you’ve been looking for. Give it a shot.

Pros and Cons

Makes four-piece square waffle

Compact and stores vertically to save space in your cabinets

Indicator light so you know when it’s done

Easy cleaning grids

No temperature controls

Some trouble with overflow

5. Best Novelty Waffle Maker

Disney DCM-9 Mickey Mini Waffle Maker

Product Rating4 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

It may not be for everyone, but if you want to put a smile on your child’s face in the morning you could do a lot worse than this novelty iron. What it lacks in advanced functioning it makes up for with a familiar shape that’ll leave your kids grinning.

The waffles which come out are fairly small, so don’t expect an enormous mouse adorning your child’s plate when you run it. On the other hand, if you do a bit of research you’ll remember that you can use a waffle maker for cakes and other batters as well and that’s where this one really shines.

It’s fairly basic, but you still get a non-stick surface, a power light, and some feet which will keep it in place in case you bump it. It may not be up everyone’s alley, but this novelty mini-waffle maker has a place in any kitchen where kids want to eat their favorite character.

Pros and Cons

Novelty shape for children

Non-stick surfaces

Super basic operation

Rubber feet keep it from skidding

Waffles made are quite small

No indicator light to let you know when the waffle is done

Should You Get a Waffle Maker?

Our answer is obviously going to be yes, but this is your kitchen we’re talking about.

As a general rule of thumb, if you’re planning on making waffles more than once a month or so you’re probably going to get your money’s worth out of the appliance.

Of course, you could always throw in with a friend and share it. Delicious waffles may be worth the price, and you really don’t have to spend a ton of money in order to get a decent waffle iron.

Chances are that if you’re reading this, however, you’re already ready to invest in one.

In short: if you love waffles then pick one up.

Picking Out Your Waffle Maker

Of course, figuring out which maker is the best is going to be something of a trial.

When it comes down to it, there are a ton of different makers around and some are better than others for different tasks. If you just enjoy a single Belgian waffle in the mornings you’re going to have different requirements than someone who’s planning on feeding a whole family, for instance.

As a general rule, you’ll want to keep an eye out for the following when you’re looking over your selection.

Even Heating

Nothing is of more concern to the would-be waffle artist than even heating. If you have hot spots it will severely affect your end product, and no one likes to deal with burned spots on their waffles.

Whether you’ve got a stove-top model or a fancy electric gizmo, this is actually the entire purpose of a waffle iron. If it doesn’t heat evenly, it’s really not worth your time.

On the other hand, most are going to end up heating a bit unevenly, so expect a bit of browning with all but the most expensive and advanced models.

Types

In general, there are stove top models which need to be heated over… well, the stove and electric models. We tend to favor the latter, since they tend to be more even and have more features without taking up any extra cabinet space.

Once you move past that, however, you’ll also need to pick between thick Belgian style waffles and thinner ones. This is really a matter of personal preference, of course, but you’re going to be stuck with one or the other unless you start a collection.

As a general rule, most people prefer to go with a Belgian waffle maker but if you’re feeding a whole family then you’ll find that a regular waffle maker which can make four or more waffles per drop of the press might be the better option of the two.

There are also shapes to consider, both round and square are the usual fare but there are some more exotic shapes out there for those who care to grab them.

Safety

You’ll want to make sure that the waffle iron you purchase stays cool while in operation, at least on the outside. This can prevent burns and you really aren’t going to be super happy if your waffle iron repeatedly hurts you.

Any good waffle iron is going to be arranged so that you can touch the outside without hurting yourself, even while the heating elements are going full blast.

On the other hand, you also want an automatic shut-off to make sure that nothing burns. They’re super handy and a good one can be set to allow you to follow a recipe closely for the amount of time that it requires.

Size and Storage

Waffle makers aren’t generally huge but if cabinet space is at a premium then there’s a couple of things you can do to ensure that you don’t have to leave it out on the counter or store it somewhere awkward.

Try to find a waffle iron which can be stored vertically in order to save some space. Most can be stored on end, but some have a nice base which you can use to ensure that you’re able to easily keep things going the way you want them to.

On the other hand, if you’re feeding a whole family then you really may have no choice. You can always check the dimensions of your iron before you make the investment and compare it to your space to make sure that you’ve got somewhere to keep it.

Ease of Cleaning

Anything which uses batter is going to leave a bit of a mess, but a waffle maker can be a serious pain to clean. (How to Clean a Waffle Iron)

That’s especially true if you opt for an electric model, since you usually can’t submerse them all the way in the suds and really get the job done… well, without destroying your expensive, breakfast making machine.

So you’ll want to make sure that you have removable irons.

Many waffle makers will let you take the irons out to clean them separately from the rest of the appliance safely.

You’ll also want a non-stick surface to ensure you aren’t left scraping at the irons with steel-wool.

No-drip features are a nice touch as well, keeping you

Electronics

There’s a lot that goes into making sure that you get a perfect waffle, and when you get into electronic waffle makers there are definitely some helpful features that you’ll be happy to have on your side.

Look for something which does the following to make your life a little bit easier:

Alarms will let you know when your waffles are done, they’re fairly basic and available on a lot of models.

Temperature settings will let you control the browning process on your waffles and customize them to your liking.

The previously mentioned automatic shut-offs are pretty much essential. Try to make sure you get one, especially if you don’t like having to hover over your iron for the duration of the cooking process.

Just For You, A Belgian Waffle Recipe

Of course, if you’ve never delved into the realm of waffles before then you’ll need to know how to make one.

So, we’d like to proudly present to you a fantastic recipe for breakfast deliciousness. Simple, quick, and the best way to test out the waffle maker you’ve just added to your home.

You’ll need the following along with your waffle maker.

2 cups of flour

4 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

2 eggs

½ cup of vegetable oil

2 cups of milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Once you’ve got everything gathered, you’re in for an easy time.

Spread some oil thinly over the waffle maker in order to prevent things from sticking.

Throw all of the dry ingredients into a bowl and sift them together until they’re evenly mixed.

Beat the egg whites in a separate bowl, don’t get rid of the yolks just yet though.

Throw the yolks, milk, extract, and oil in and stir a bit. Then you’ll want to add it to the dry ingredients.

Get the egg whites in and mix everything thoroughly.

Cook them in the waffle maker for 5-10 minutes. You should have enough for six waffles in most makers.

And voila, you’ll have some delicious Belgian waffles. Give it a shot as soon as you get your maker. More recipes can be found here.

Conclusion

While picking out a waffle iron isn’t the hardest thing in the world, picking out the best waffle maker can be a little bit more difficult than most people anticipate. If you follow our guide above then you’re well on your way to being able to produce amazing waffles whenever you want. Don’t hesitate, pick one up and enhance your breakfast experience.